The Citrin Family GIS/Applied Spatial Analysis Lab provides resources for Dartmouth students and faculty to support teaching and learning in areas related to geographic information science, remote sensing, image processing, and spatial analysis. These learning activities include the following:

Design and provision of geospatial segments for annual off-campus programs in Earth Sciences (the "Stretch" in western North America) and Environmental Studies (Africa FSP).

Support and consultation for undergraduates working on senior theses, and graduate student pursuing masters or doctoral research in GIS-related areas.

Access to extracurricular training opportunities such as workshops and online courses providing an introduction to GIS and related topics.

During the next two years, the following courses are scheduled to be offered (all subject to change):

Geography 50. Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

14F, 15S, 15F, 16S: 12

Geographical information systems (GIS) are computer-based systems that process and answer questions about spatial data relative to concerns of a geographic nature. This course focuses on the basic principles of GIS, including data capture and manipulation, methods of spatial interpolation, and GIS trends and applications. The course is not intended to train students to be GIS operators; rather, to explain the fundamentals of this rapidly growing technology. A series of laboratory exercises will expose the students to GIS systems. Dist: TLA. Shi.

Geography 51. Remote Sensing

See Earth Sciences 65/Geography 51 for details.

Geography 54. Geovisualization

15W: 12

Geovisualization is the science and art of visualizing and interpreting spatial information. In this course, students will become familiar with the principles and methods of visual analysis of geographic data, using geospatial tools for visual communication and visual thinking. Beginning with the traditional principles of cartography, the course will then cover more advanced topics such as flows and networks, visualization of 3D landscapes and spaces, animation, and interactive web-based geovisualization. Class time will be divided between discussion of principles and practices, and hands-on laboratory activities. Chipman.

Geography 56. The Geographies of Health and Disease

15S, 16S: 10A

This interdisciplinary course introduces the principles and methods used to understand health and disease in the geographical context. Topics include monitoring epidemics, tracking disease outbreaks, identifying environmental factors that may promote or hinder health, and studying geographic impediments in accessing health care services. Learning takes place through lecture and discussion, readings of selected manuscripts, hands-on experience in the GIS lab, assignments, and completion of a term project. Previous courses in geography or health are recommended. Dist: TAS. Berke, Shi.

Geography 57. Urban Applications of GIS

14F, 15F: 11

This course is about how to use GIS technology to solve urban problems. The application problems that will be discussed in the class are from areas including urban planning and design, public administration, business decision-making, environment assessment, landuse change, and social and political issues. The data, spatial analytical techniques, and GIS software that have been used in these applications will be examined through studying real-world examples. The class contains three components: the lectures, the lab exercises and the term project. The software packages used for the lab exercises include ArcGIS and MapInfo. Prerequisite: Geography 50. Dist: TLA. Shi.

Geography 59/Earth Sciences 77. Environmental Applications of GIS

15W: 11

This course focuses on the uses of geographic information systems (GIS) in solving practical environmental problems. Students will learn advanced principles of GIS analysis and will study ways that these methods can be used to better understand environmental systems. A wide variety of applications will be presented, including examples focused on soils, watershed hydrology, vegetation, land use/land cover, climate, pollution, landscape ecology, and natural hazards. In lectures, weekly laboratory exercises, and class projects, students will gain experience in designing and implementing GIS-based solutions to environmental problems. Prerequisite: Geography 50 or Earth Sciences 65/Geography 51, or permission of the instructor. Dist: TLA. Dietrich.

Earth Sciences 65/Geography 51. Remote Sensing

15W, 16W: 10A

Remote sensing involves the acquisition of information about the earth from airborne and spaceborne sensors. Both vector (GIS and GPS) and raster (image data will be treated with an emphasis on their interpretation for various geographic and earth science applications. A significant part of the course will be devoted to practical exercises; there will be a final project involving the computer processing and interpretation of these data. Prerequisite: Geography 3 or Earth Sciences 1, 2, 5, or 6. Dist: TLA. Hawley (15W), Chipman (16W).